Strike: CSOs Slam ASUU, Threaten Mobilisation Against Lecturers Over Salary Request

Two Civil Society Organisations (CSOs); the Nigerian Project Initiative (NPI) and the Initiative to Save Democracy (ISD) have condemned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for demanding to be paid salaries from February till date.

The Chairman of the CSOs, Mohammed Salihu and Akinloye James, respectively, slammed the union for pledging to keep schools closed until they are paid for the six months they have been on strike.

The organisations in a joint statement described the position of lecturers as selfish and infuriating, stating that the union remained stubborn after other academic unions.

It pleaded that ASUU reconsiders its stance for the sake of the students and to repair the damages done by the strike. 

“It is particularly provoking that other unions in the academic community pursuing almost the same goals have decided to go back to work but ASUU members rather than follow suit are demanding payment for work that they did not do.

“Which employer does that? If for example, the government were to heed them, would that not be a recipe for disaster as NASU and SSANU which have agreed to go back to work would now resort to strike to demand the same salaries that they forfeited during the strike?

“It is a rule in industrial relations that unions keep a strike fund and ASUU through its president has admitted that they have been paying their union members. So, it is thus apparent that ASUU by its demand is now seeking double pay for its members for work not done.”

“For the sake of our students who have missed out on account of the strike we expect ASUU to rush back to work at this time and look forward towards repairing the damage that has been done through the strike instead of resorting to financial blackmail,” the statement read.

NPI and ISD, however, threatened to mobilise other civil society organisations for a face-off with the union.

“ASUU has lost it this time and we dare say that if by this week ASUU sticks on to its selfish demands we would be compelled to lay siege to ASUU offices across the country given that all men of good conscience are against ASUU,” the statement added.